A tentative agreement on new measures to avoid and minimise food and textile waste throughout the EU has been agreed by the EU Parliament and Council.
The agreement stipulates that EU nations must set up producer responsibility (EPR) programs, which require manufacturers that sell textiles in an EU nation to pay for the materials’ collection, sorting, and recycling within 30 months of the directive’s implementation. Regardless of whether they are based in an EU nation or not, these rules would be applicable to all producers, including those who use e-commerce platforms. Twelve months later, microenterprises would have to adhere to the EPR regulations.
Products including apparel and accessories, shoes, blankets, kitchen and bed linens, curtains, and headgear will all be subject to the new regulations. EU nations may also establish EPR programs for mattress manufacturers at the request of Parliament.
The negotiators also decided that when determining the financial contributions to the EPR systems, member states have to address fast fashion and ultra-quick fashion.
